I’ve had a pair of docs every 5 or 6 years since 1981 and I could no longer bear the deteriorating quality issues. The last straw was my Cappers leather breaking open behind the toe box after 8 months. I love DMs but I won’t buy them anymore. I have the solovair 11 hole derby boots and I can tell you from experience, these are of the quality the 80s DMs used to be. Solovair all the way. Thank you for your informative video..
Yeah it’s obvious they’re sliding by on the popularity of their brand and cutting costs to the detriment of value provided to the consumer. MIE’s are insanely overpriced. Quite a few options for recraftable full grain leather boots for that price.
Solovair used to make DMs under license until the DMs brand name was purchased. Solovair are the old British made quality. Solovair still produce ltd ranges for DM as the made in Britain range. The usual over priced DMs are now utter rubbish.
I've had my docs for a year and one of the boots got a hole in the toe box, and it's such bullshit I payed loads for them thinking they would have some quality, but the crease just killed it, so now I'm in the search for a better boot.
Just got mine today. Shipped DHL from England and arrived to the mid-Atlantic region of the US in 4 days. I got the same model as in this video except not shinny because I’m hoping it’s less maintenance. I’m usually a 10-10.5 in the us and I got 11. They were a smidge loose but as soon as I put in a thin insole they were perfect. So far I’ve just worn them around the house. Last time I wore boots I was a teenager but I know better than to wear them out and about all day. I will note that they’re much more comfortable than what I was expecting. You notice immediately the support they provide. First impressions, I’m very happy with them so far.
Early Solovairs had yellow stiching around the welt, only recently they switched to this grey one, to further disconnect themselves from the Dr. Marten's. Couple things I've noticed comparing old Solovairs to Dr. Martens's MIE: 1. The welt on MIE's is indeed quite more chunky, but the stiching is more uneven that on Solovairs. Also, on DM's the welt begins on the outside of the boot, while on Solovairs, it begins on the inside, looks more clean in my opinon. 2. Laces - the MIE's laces are better quality than Solovairs, but I still switch them for pracord ones. 3. Sole - the sole on Solovairs is 2 mm thicker than on MIE's, the tread pattern is about the same thickness. 4. Stitching on the backstay of DM's, appears to be thicker than Solovairs 5. Top of the shaft in DM's isn't finished in any way, but in Solovair there is thin leather piping. 6. Leather feels the same. 7. The pull strap on Solovairs is tad bit longer, and feels more rigid than DM one 8. Size - I wear UK 9 on most of my boots and shoes, and I do quite feel that DM's are a tiny little bit smaller in size 9 that Solovair Above may not apply to new (gray stiched) Solovairs. Overall they feel about the same, but price wise over here, Solovair is waay cheaper than MIE DM's. To be frank, I would not buy MIE's if they were not on a killer sale, but since there was, I pulled the trigger and got them 30% off on Valentine's Day. They were still more expensive than Solovair though.
Ah, forgot to mention - the fabric heel cup on Solovairs is prone to failing, makes breaking them in a little easier since the leather does not rub on your heel, but after couple years it just wears down. It does not, however, make the boot any less comfortable. Also, any cobbler can glue in a replacment one. MIE's have got leather heel cup which is more durable, but first days are killer - don't wear them for long.
I absolutely love my Solovair boots. They're so incredibly comfortable, only took a week to break in, and can truly take a beating. I will never bother with Dr Martens again. They're just so good. They can be worn as work boots and also as a fashion statement.
What sort of Solovairs do you have?, I'm thinking of purchasing the 8 hole Derby boot do they wear well? and what would you consider cleaning them with?
I’ll never bother with doc martens again lol yeah right more lies you give yourself away mate , they can be worn for work or a fashion statement incredibly comfortable I love my Solovair boots 🤣😂😂 are you for real ? You sound like a tv advertisement
They are definitely more appealing to look at. I look forward to see how you get on with these. It would be fair if you compared them more with the Made in England DMs.
I have two pairs of DM 1461s, Vintage in black and Abandon (oiled leather) in dark tan, and my partner has a pair of Solovair smooth black derby boots. I like her Solovair boots much better than my smooth black DM MIE shoes, better quality leather and not difficult to break in. Solovairs also have a standard good year welted construction, so any cobbler anywhere can resole them, whereas DM soles are difficult to resole because they have a proprietary construction where the PVC sole is moulded onto the shoe or boot.
In my opinion, these boots have higher quality leather than (modern) Made in England DM1460s. The leather on DM1460s starts cracking quite soon regardless of conditioning. The effect is much less pronounced on Solovairs.
They're definitely worth the price. I have a pair from 1997 and they are just as good as they were when I first bought them. I just got them resoled and they are awesome.
I started wearing Doc Martens in 2011 and have loved them ever since, so much so that since then I have ended with 8 pairs of DMs boots(my second pair which are 1914's are Made in England). 2 pairs of my DMs are sandals and shoes. None of my Doc's have failed on me, my first pair is 8 years old now and still relatively like new, the only thing I had done to them was have them resoled at Timpson's with proper doc's soles after 3 years of having them. All my other Doc's are still going strong. I have 2 pairs of 1460's(1st pair 8yr old and for life 4yr old), 1 pair of mie 1914(6yr old), 1461(5yr old), 1490(2yr old), Jadon (almost 11 months old), Fenton sandals (spring 2019) and finally my latest pair 8761 BXB(about 3 weeks old). Not 1 pair of them has failed on me so far. I am curious as to how solovair compares to them with the original pre 00's Doc's being made by the same company though. I look forward to seeing how your solovair boots hold up over time😊.
Definitely looking into this brand after this review looking forward to seeing how you get on! I'm shocked at the 1460s poor quality nowadays with Dr Martens.
I'm sad that they are so flimsy and useless nowadays. I'm switching to solovair too. My only good Dr martens was made before Dr martens outsourced production to Asia
Have had my pair for about a year now. There is a real issue with the design of the tongue and the way it folds into an unforgiving hard ridge. This has caused me a lot of pain on the top of my left foot to the extent that I had to stop wearing them for a few months while I treated the injury on my foot (ice pack, anti inflammatory ...) The soles provide little arch support so I had to put an insole in. Anyway, I persevered, wearing slightly thicker socks and the leather gradually softened a little bit. Now they are almost comfortable. There is still a bit of heel lift, but the leather has held up very well. I am not entirely keen on the plasticky look, but overall still happy I got these....
Solovairs are the more mature docs. Perfect for someone who grew up wearing the old docs and wants to bring the look into maturity and get away from those distinct yellow lines. But if you care more about advertising you’re wearing the brand you’d probably want the yellow. I’m a big heritage/Goodyear welted boot fan but this video is propelling me to relive a bit of my teenage years and get a pair of solovairs. Still have my old pair from the 90s and it’s unfortunate how fast the new soles wear out vs the old ones. The life of docs are more or less tied to their soles after all.
I have had mine some weeks - same as the ones reviewed here and I have had real issues with the seam where the tongue meets the boot being very unforgiving on the top of my foot and making them really uncomfortable. When I first got them the seam would fold over when I put the boot on creating a really thick ridge. I sent them back to the factory and I was really glad that they smoothed it over and sent them back so I hadn't lost my first week of pain. I am still having issues with the ridge however so I have ordered some boot stretchers and Ill see if that helps. Probably just needs a few mm of stretch to take that pressure of. Other than that Ive had no rubbing or blisters and I really do love the look.
I've got a pair of classic 1460 DM's coming after not having owned a pair since I was a Punk loving teenager in the seventies! after looking at your reviews I'm a bit nervous about the quantity. If these Solovair's fare better over time they may be an option. Thanks for the reviews.
I have the Made in England Docs, so I imagine they're just about the same as these minus the coloring of various parts. Hardly wear them, but I'd probably wear them a lot more with the nice greyish/white stitching these ones have. Overall the colors make the boot look a little more elegant and less "hip" than the Doc counterpart.
I love my MIE Docs because they're a limited edition with a white stitched upper and white welt stitching. I love them because they don't look like everybody else's Docs. They do look more refined and classy like you say. The yellow stitch gets a little old.
Only compliant I have with mine is that the tongue on one of the boots always wants to slide over like it wasn't put in right. Tried everything to try and get it to stay but it always ends up going to the side.
I'd be very interested for someone to provide a comparison of the different leather types offered by Solovair. Most seem to go for this "hi-shine" leather, which seems to be the lowest quality leather offered (according to Solovair's own description), simply due to it's similarity to the classic Dr. Martens.
No wonder they couldn't help size me! I asked about the sizing compared to DM's. Looking forward to the comparison video to the MIE Docs. Thanks for this!
@@DevonReviewer MIE Dm's are borderline unwearable for me. I have tried multiple times but they always leave my feet sore. The original For Life boots are extremely comfortable though. I can wear my pair all day long. These days though, I find myself wearing Red Wings and Truman boots.
@@DevonReviewer It's funny, because for me it's the non MIE DMs that have a narrower last. (My feet are very thin) So I have to take thin socks when I wear them to make it more comfortable.
I have two pairs of these and three pairs of MIE Docs.....watch the welting on the Solovairs, both of mine had the soles coming loose after about a year, the MIE Docs didn't do that after 4 years.(the one pair i had back then, two of them I got just recently) .... I fixed it by re-welting them with a soldering iron, but it's still extremely annoying.
@@SierraEire Yep. Both are 9UK, and size-wise they're identical. In fact I was pretty convinced they're made in the same factory, which is why the solovair soles coming loose really disappointed me. They're both NPS shoes, but maybe they make them to differing standards, or maybe I just got extremely unlucky. :s
Van V My toes are 2mm from stumping the front of my DMs, so I was worried after I ordered a pair of these Solovairs in the same size because I later saw their size guide puts me on a bigger size than what I ordered.
Thank you for the review! I got a pair of Doc's 'bout a half a year ago and the quality was horrible. They cracked in a couple of months. Wish I could get my hands on these SOLOVAIR boots. Looking good!
Just received my 11 hole steal toe capped solovair derby boots and the quality is great when it comes to how they are put together but I was quit surprised at how thin the leather is. I am used to iron rangers and JK custom boots though. They socked up the leather conditioner very quickly, so a bit dry out of the factory. I will see how they survive 12 hour shifts in an engineering factory :)
I'm a warehouse worker and i'm intrested in buying Solovair steel toed Highlander boots. Since You're wearing the boots while working i wanted to know how they turned out to be. Thank You in advance !!!!
Karan Singh they are very comfortable. I spend 12 hours walking on concrete floors at work. The toe cap does not meet safety regulations and might not protect your toes in a accident. The leather is very thin, this doesn’t give any protection in a working environment. I use my JK custom linesman boots for work; I would advise looking into RedWings safety boot range, they are around the same price, but will be a lot better for comfort, safety and last a lot longer.
Hello, one question, you bought the 8.5UK, I'm from USA and I usually wear 9.5US, may I know the length of your foot, just for reference, I'm still deciding what size should I get, regards!!
Another problem I had with DM’s is they don’t come in 1/2 sizes. I wear size 9.5 US but I had to buy Size 10 in DM and it doesn’t fit right at all unfortunately
are these the Hi-shine ones?("Navy Hi-Shine 8 Eye Derby Boot" ) or shiny black and hi shine are diffrent types of shine? and what do you think is better to buy, the greasy or the shiney ones? thanks
It would interesting to know if they use cork footbeds, like Doc Martens used to. Docs in the 70's didn't need breaking in, from my experience and were comfy from the start. That all changed in around 1985 when the quality dropped and they cut my heels to bits and I still have scar tissue.
Solovairs use a proper Goodyear welt stitch you can actually buy replacement soles and replace the soles which you cant on the dr martens as they use heat to stick the sole onto the boot as well as stiching
The only thing that threw me off about my pair, is on the site the boot doesn’t have binding of the very top where it wraps around your ankle. Almost mine are constructed a bit different than yours, and my friends pair are a bit different as well. His also are just a smooth leather are the very top, with out binding. Imo they look much better
Nice video. I prefer these much more than my doc MIE 1460's but unfortunately the soles wear fast as well. May wear a little slower but I didn't really pay attention. Unfortunately any see through rubber sole is to soft and wears quick. But I still love these. Thanks for posting this video.
Could.you olease compare with your made in england. As the quality of solovair looks superb. And im sure everyone would love a followup on you m.i.e oxbloods
Hello, great video Purchase a pair of Doc Martens M.I.E 1460 they were a UK size 9 and they were so tight on my feet. Just wondering if the Solovair boots have the same fitting as the Doc Martens? Don’t know if I should go one size up on the Solovair boots? I don’t want to make the same mistake. Any advice would be great. Thank you
@@SlasherGuyy1 I would follow the sizing guide on their web page, I would say they are true to normal shoe size… for sneakers I often go up half a size…
@@DevonReviewer thank you for the help I do appreciate your pov! I saw a diff video the UA-camr was mentioning about a whole size down . I was worried for a second because I’m buying a new pair from eBay ( brand new ! And for a not to bad price) and from measurements the seller sent I would want to say I think I ordered my right size hopefully ( fingers crossed ) good thing the seller accepts returns
Hey! I have both and for me they're really true to size. With Martens I had to go half a size up because the half size wasn't available (had a size 8 with my martens, my Solovair are 7,5 and fit perfectly). Hope that helps :)
How long is you feet from toes to heel? I go 8 for Docs and it's a lil bit tight. I am thinking between going 8.5 or 9 for these boots. Please help me. Thank you.
From my research you ought to get the same size in these that you get in docs or even go down half a size. If 8 is tight in docs for you, 8 might be just right in solovairs
Try Blackmans, cherry brogue dealer is my fave of theirs and a fraction of a Doc price wise and they were another company that utilised the sole that DM and Solovair used. East London firm and us hooligans used to get 'em out back of the factory in Hackney.
I've had my Blackmans cherry 8 hole standard boots for six years now and still going strong except the pull tabs came out but not the worst issue, my brogue dealers which polish up extremely well (ex soldier and they look like glass) I use for going out and about in to look smart and they are 4 years poss 5 years, no splits, no parting of the soles and the pull tabs seemed a bit sturdier than the lace up ones. I paid £25 for each pair, I wear them fixing cars and doing tough stuff and just keep on going, my proper English DM oxblood loafers I have had over ten years and I cannot wear them still without them ripping me heels up :( I also got a £15 pair of Austrian para boots for real mucky stuff. Another weird brand I had much fun with was something on ebay called Pukka, the soles had like flashing where the oil resistant logo went between heel and toe would on a DM, lasted ten years though until my daughters had to prise them from me hands because the crease at toecap had split open but sooooooo comfy when dry hehe Back in the day I queued all night outside a shop in Tottenham Court Road to be one of the first to own Dr Marten 14 hole steel toecap boots, I loved them boots but the nause was they didn't have the yellow stitching, I gave them to a friend I think in 88 and he still has them and still serviceable albeit the steel caps have broken out of the inner linings, bet the new chinesium stuff don't last a fraction of that lol
Hey, I have a question yall, in relation to the doc martins should I go the same size or a different size? I need to know as I am considering to order a pair and well with my docs I had to go a 1 1/2 size smaller than my normal size and well since Solovair doesn't take refunds for acquiring the wrong size I was just wondering.
Since I saw so many Videos prasing the Solovair Boots I decided to buy them, they are my first Boots with laces and so far the quality is perfect, but the Boots realy hurt on top of my feet. I'm guessing it is because there is the stich that combines the tongue of the boot with the Rest, has anyone had similar experiences and did the pain Go away? Cheers
Bonjour; je n'arrive pas a trouvé une réponse a ma question, peut-être trouverais-je de l'aide ici ? Je suis amoureux des Solovair, et j'aimerais savoir si c'est utile de mettre de la graisse pour assouplir le cuir et éviter de craquer le cuir trop rapidement ou ça ne sert a rien et il vaut mieux mettre de la crème et/ou de la graisse après les avoir porté pour les faire ? J’espère qu'on pourra m'éclairé un peu : ) merci ps: désolé pour la traduction automatique de google ^^ Hello; I can not find an answer to my question, may I find help here? I am in love with Solovair, and I would like to know if it is useful to put fat to soften the leather and avoid cracking the leather too quickly or it is useless and it is better to put cream and / or fat after wearing them to do them? I hope we can enlighten a little:) thank you ps: sorry for the automatic translation of google ^^
Every pair of DM's I had in the 70's and 80's the soles split after about 6 months and the hot knife repair was hopeless. I was in school and spent many a squelchy day in those things until they eventually priced them out of most people's pockets and these are even worse.
same here 6 months was about an average lifetime for DMs and even if you avoided the dreaded sole split the tread was gone within a year ,, that was ok then but not at the price they are now ,, there are so many boots that are better quality
I think you ought to consider calling some of your vids under the A.S.M.R. banner, cos your reviews and the way you speak are very soothing. Its difficult to explain, but touching and manipulating squeaking,creaking leather boots with a soft informative voice gives a lot of people "The Fizz". Youll need to make your vids at least twice as long and your hits will go up and up. ASMR the new phenomena. (not just boots)
I bought the monkey boot in December 2020 and they still look excellent. I wear them at least once a week if not two or three times. My next pair might be the pair that you have. The main decision I have to make is high, shine or low shine.
hey! i love your boot reviews. You know very much about boots :) i need some advice regarding sizing from the Black Greasy 8 Eye Derby Boot (Last 409). Maybe you can help me please? I ordered the Burgundy Rub-Off 6 Eye Brogue Boot last week in size UK10 (Last 493). Unfortunaly they are a bit too big for my taste and the shiny leather isnt my favorite. The next option is the Black Grease 8 Eye Derby Boot. According to their homepage, the two pairs aren´t equal when compared to sizing. Boots with the Last 493 seemed to be at least 1/2 size bigger then the one with Last 409. What are your experiences? best regards Jo Ny
Interesting about you going up a half size. Currently their website says these boots run about a half size larger. I also wear an 8 so they currently recommend a 7.5 or using thick socks. I also didn't see any reference to the tracing processed referenced in the video ... just FYI ... they do state on the website "It is free and very simple to exchange or ask for a refund, so you can try the footwear in the comfort of your own home to make sure they fit." ... but then at the bottom of the size guide page I found this: "Please note returns for incorrect size are accepted, but we are not accountable for orders where the incorrect size has been purchased." ... What? That seems very poorly worded. I ordered my normal size 8 ... we'll see how it all works out. Cheers & thanks for the excellent video!
@@globalnova Sorry about the hassle for you. I ended up ordering 8's and they worked out perfect for me. Very comfortable up front and got a lot better after only a couple wearings. Good luck!
The leather visibly looks better on these than docs. Docs seem a little flimsier and cheaper looking . Well because they are considering these are more money than the regulars and less than the made in englands
I bought a pair of these in 2016 after three pairs of Asian Docs split on me. Without a doubt Solovair are the best boots I've ever owned!! Didn't take too long to break in, incredibly comfy and sturdy 😁
@@sykoosi yea still wearing them!! And I paid £155 at the time, not sure what they are now, but I think they're great, but now I prefer my greasy black Solovair instead
Tengo un par hace 11 meses, son excelentes y de mejor calidad que las Dr. Martens, además todas son hechas a mano en Inglaterra. sería bueno que hicieras una comparación de las dos marcas. Saludos y muy buen video !
Sinceramente quisiera saber, ¿a qué se refiere con "mejor calidad"? ¿Bajo qué criterio? Que yo sepa, Solovair usa la misma clase de cuero de mala calidad ( cuero corregido) en sus botas standard, lo cual dejará arrugas que irán agrietándose con el uso, especialmente en el empeine. En lo que mí respecta, son la misma cosa, sólo que con algunos modelos recurren a una publicidad que deslumbra con herencias y métodos "superiores" para aumentar el precio de sus sobre-valorados productos.
I will do another comparison video soon, but my assessment id that the solovair have a more generous width on their last (I am comparing an 8.5UK with 8UK DM)
I've just purchased a pair of Grinders Stag 2015, but I do love the look of these! I'm a huge fan of the stitch colour. I have a pair of vintage Tuff boots that are a bit more matte than these and the Docs, but have a darker stitch thread which I love! They're comfortable, durable, and satisfy the fashion application they were intended for. I will keep these on my Wishlist though. Thanks for the review. I would strongly suggest trying out either the surgeon's or berluti knots. You remove the need for double knots and still use up a bit of length so they don't get stepped on, but more importantly, the knot is much nicer!
In my opinion both brands are a fashion shoe and are Goodyear Welted in name only as they are both GLUED soles. For the same price you can get a proper Goodyear welted boot from Meermin with NO GLUE. The leather quality is head an shoulders above both these boots and for an additional 80 quid you can get MTO Meermins in Shell Cordovan. The only reason to get either of these is British patriotism but its the difference between getting a Triumph and a Ferrari when both are now in the same price range.
**Patiently waiting till Solovair goes on sale** I love my Dr. Martens, I got a pair last year and they're still lasting there is only two small slits where my foot creases when I walk but a little bit of Saphir Renovarice Creme works wonders. However, I was lucky enough to snag a few pair of DM's from the 90's and the quality is night and day now keep in mind my 2021 pair is from *Vietnam* not *Made in England* but I did some digging before I went and got myself just a pair of *Made in Englands*. I ended up finding out that even the current line of *Made in Englands* deteriorate not as fast but quick enough. I love the fact that NPS was like, "Ok well, we'll just keep making the *same* boot*." with the same materials and even adding in a shank. As soon as a sale happens (if one ever does) I'm going to buy myself a pair.
From my understanding, DM Made in Englands are still made by Solovair/NPS on contract in Northampton, but the latter does not like to advertise that fact. The biggest advantage of Solovairs though is that their soles are attached through the standard goodyear welted construction, not moulded onto the shoe/boot like DMs, meaning that they can be re-soled by any cobbler, whereas DMs can only be re-soled with original soles by Timpson in the UK. Even with other types of soles, such as Vibrams, DM are quite difficult to re-sole, I’ve tried to get my old pair of DM MIE 1461s re-soled here in the Philippines, but the local cobblers I’ve shown them to seem to be unsure about how to do so.
@The Muffin Man ...I've seen re-soled DMs that look quite good, what the cobblers do is cut the PVC sole but keep the original stitching, then stick a new midsole and outsole. I think you need a skilled experienced cobbler to do this properly though.
The Muffin Man...DMs don’t resole their shoes, even in the UK. I already asked in Megmall and BGC. The only shoe repair store that can with the original soles is Timpson in the UK, which is their equivalent of Mr. Quickie. Here in Manila, maybe Besa’s can do the resole but with a Vibram sole, they did a good job converting my English-made country shoes from double leather soles to a rubber Vibram soles. You might have to check with the store though. Not cheap as well, gonna cost over 5000 php, so unless you have MIEs it won’t be worth it imo.
I have a pair of these and love them, but the top is looser than the 1460s. Compare the profile and last. Its not quite the same. The Solovair are looser despite tightening the laces to the max. Look at Devon's fit, it i s loose on the top as well. This feels awkward because when you tighten the laces it snugs your entire foot, but not over the ankle.
I know! He hasn't breathed a word about them in 18 months! I wonder if they failed, and DM paid him some hush money? I love my Vintage 1460s, so I really hope his have held up.
@Csab I've been wearing Docs since 1990. That's 29 years of research. I currently have 4 pairs of Docs. Also, I didn't say they failed. I said "maybe they failed".
I really like these boots but I just can't justify paying that much. I had a pair of doc martens years ago and they were nowhere near as expensive as they are now
I always wanted docs. But after everything I've read and saw on videos, I go with solovair. I don't think it's worth buying a bad quality plus very expensive shoe just because of a yellow stitch. If I can have the same shoes, even better quality, almost the same price plus made in England, there is no question about it. I don't say that products made in Asia are necessary bad, but still It feels better to support European companies.
I’ve had a pair of docs every 5 or 6 years since 1981 and I could no longer bear the deteriorating quality issues. The last straw was my Cappers leather breaking open behind the toe box after 8 months. I love DMs but I won’t buy them anymore. I have the solovair 11 hole derby boots and I can tell you from experience, these are of the quality the 80s DMs used to be. Solovair all the way. Thank you for your informative video..
Yeah it’s obvious they’re sliding by on the popularity of their brand and cutting costs to the detriment of value provided to the consumer. MIE’s are insanely overpriced. Quite a few options for recraftable full grain leather boots for that price.
Is the shoe box slimmer like how made in England doc martens are?
Same. Used to wear them from the late 80s all the way through the 90s (they used to be £30 a pair from the army and navy store!), total crap now
Solovair used to make DMs under license until the DMs brand name was purchased. Solovair are the old British made quality. Solovair still produce ltd ranges for DM as the made in Britain range. The usual over priced DMs are now utter rubbish.
I've had my docs for a year and one of the boots got a hole in the toe box, and it's such bullshit I payed loads for them thinking they would have some quality, but the crease just killed it, so now I'm in the search for a better boot.
Just got mine today. Shipped DHL from England and arrived to the mid-Atlantic region of the US in 4 days. I got the same model as in this video except not shinny because I’m hoping it’s less maintenance. I’m usually a 10-10.5 in the us and I got 11. They were a smidge loose but as soon as I put in a thin insole they were perfect. So far I’ve just worn them around the house. Last time I wore boots I was a teenager but I know better than to wear them out and about all day. I will note that they’re much more comfortable than what I was expecting. You notice immediately the support they provide. First impressions, I’m very happy with them so far.
Early Solovairs had yellow stiching around the welt, only recently they switched to this grey one, to further disconnect themselves from the Dr. Marten's. Couple things I've noticed comparing old Solovairs to Dr. Martens's MIE:
1. The welt on MIE's is indeed quite more chunky, but the stiching is more uneven that on Solovairs. Also, on DM's the welt begins on the outside of the boot, while on Solovairs, it begins on the inside, looks more clean in my opinon.
2. Laces - the MIE's laces are better quality than Solovairs, but I still switch them for pracord ones.
3. Sole - the sole on Solovairs is 2 mm thicker than on MIE's, the tread pattern is about the same thickness.
4. Stitching on the backstay of DM's, appears to be thicker than Solovairs
5. Top of the shaft in DM's isn't finished in any way, but in Solovair there is thin leather piping.
6. Leather feels the same.
7. The pull strap on Solovairs is tad bit longer, and feels more rigid than DM one
8. Size - I wear UK 9 on most of my boots and shoes, and I do quite feel that DM's are a tiny little bit smaller in size 9 that Solovair
Above may not apply to new (gray stiched) Solovairs. Overall they feel about the same, but price wise over here, Solovair is waay cheaper than MIE DM's. To be frank, I would not buy MIE's if they were not on a killer sale, but since there was, I pulled the trigger and got them 30% off on Valentine's Day. They were still more expensive than Solovair though.
Ah, forgot to mention - the fabric heel cup on Solovairs is prone to failing, makes breaking them in a little easier since the leather does not rub on your heel, but after couple years it just wears down. It does not, however, make the boot any less comfortable. Also, any cobbler can glue in a replacment one. MIE's have got leather heel cup which is more durable, but first days are killer - don't wear them for long.
Thanks for the comparison, thats really good info. I will sort out a side by side video at some point!
James Buchanan this is correct, i actually just came from the Rose Anvil channel where he’s split both boots in half and saw just that
I never liked the shape of solovairs. They don’t look like docs
@@LRiper It's essentially the same shape, solovair are just less ball shaped or inflated around the toe
I absolutely love my Solovair boots. They're so incredibly comfortable, only took a week to break in, and can truly take a beating. I will never bother with Dr Martens again. They're just so good. They can be worn as work boots and also as a fashion statement.
What sort of Solovairs do you have?, I'm thinking of purchasing the 8 hole Derby boot do they wear well? and what would you consider cleaning them with?
How do you break them in? Which ones do you have?
Throw um in nearest canal it’s all propaganda & bull
I’ll never bother with doc martens again lol yeah right more lies you give yourself away mate , they can be worn for work or a fashion statement incredibly comfortable I love my Solovair boots 🤣😂😂 are you for real ? You sound like a tv advertisement
@@Genghis-Khan121 In you opinion, do you think the Asian Docs measure up the the English Solovairs?
They are definitely more appealing to look at. I look forward to see how you get on with these. It would be fair if you compared them more with the Made in England DMs.
I will up date soon! Thanks for watching!
Have you try the solovair? How was it?
I have two pairs of DM 1461s, Vintage in black and Abandon (oiled leather) in dark tan, and my partner has a pair of Solovair smooth black derby boots. I like her Solovair boots much better than my smooth black DM MIE shoes, better quality leather and not difficult to break in. Solovairs also have a standard good year welted construction, so any cobbler anywhere can resole them, whereas DM soles are difficult to resole because they have a proprietary construction where the PVC sole is moulded onto the shoe or boot.
@@driftertravels928 Solovair and DMs are made in exactly the same method.
@@DevonReviewer Please do, I'm looking to buy some Docs, but I'm trying to decide between Solovair and MIE
In my opinion, these boots have higher quality leather than (modern) Made in England DM1460s. The leather on DM1460s starts cracking quite soon regardless of conditioning. The effect is much less pronounced on Solovairs.
Definitely looking into to these to replace my M.I.E 1460 Reds when they inevitably die in 12 months. I'll be watching regularly for updates mate.
They're definitely worth the price. I have a pair from 1997 and they are just as good as they were when I first bought them. I just got them resoled and they are awesome.
What's involved in the resoling process? Do they have to be purchased from the company for any cobbler to replace?
I started wearing Doc Martens in 2011 and have loved them ever since, so much so that since then I have ended with 8 pairs of DMs boots(my second pair which are 1914's are Made in England). 2 pairs of my DMs are sandals and shoes.
None of my Doc's have failed on me, my first pair is 8 years old now and still relatively like new, the only thing I had done to them was have them resoled at Timpson's with proper doc's soles after 3 years of having them. All my other Doc's are still going strong.
I have 2 pairs of 1460's(1st pair 8yr old and for life 4yr old), 1 pair of mie 1914(6yr old), 1461(5yr old), 1490(2yr old), Jadon (almost 11 months old), Fenton sandals (spring 2019) and finally my latest pair 8761 BXB(about 3 weeks old). Not 1 pair of them has failed on me so far.
I am curious as to how solovair compares to them with the original pre 00's Doc's being made by the same company though. I look forward to seeing how your solovair boots hold up over time😊.
Love the ASMR as you're handling the leather
🤨
Just recently got a pair of Solovair 8-Hole Derbies, and am quite pleased!
Wondering where I can find these in Canada outside Toronto.
That took me back to my teenage years in the 80's and my first few pair of Doc Martins. I'll be ordering a set soon I hope.
Thanks for watching
I recommend them.
Definitely looking into this brand after this review looking forward to seeing how you get on! I'm shocked at the 1460s poor quality nowadays with Dr Martens.
I'm sad that they are so flimsy and useless nowadays. I'm switching to solovair too. My only good Dr martens was made before Dr martens outsourced production to Asia
Have had my pair for about a year now. There is a real issue with the design of the tongue and the way it folds into an unforgiving hard ridge. This has caused me a lot of pain on the top of my left foot to the extent that I had to stop wearing them for a few months while I treated the injury on my foot (ice pack, anti inflammatory ...) The soles provide little arch support so I had to put an insole in. Anyway, I persevered, wearing slightly thicker socks and the leather gradually softened a little bit. Now they are almost comfortable. There is still a bit of heel lift, but the leather has held up very well. I am not entirely keen on the plasticky look, but overall still happy I got these....
Solovairs are the more mature docs. Perfect for someone who grew up wearing the old docs and wants to bring the look into maturity and get away from those distinct yellow lines. But if you care more about advertising you’re wearing the brand you’d probably want the yellow. I’m a big heritage/Goodyear welted boot fan but this video is propelling me to relive a bit of my teenage years and get a pair of solovairs. Still have my old pair from the 90s and it’s unfortunate how fast the new soles wear out vs the old ones. The life of docs are more or less tied to their soles after all.
I have had mine some weeks - same as the ones reviewed here and I have had real issues with the seam where the tongue meets the boot being very unforgiving on the top of my foot and making them really uncomfortable. When I first got them the seam would fold over when I put the boot on creating a really thick ridge. I sent them back to the factory and I was really glad that they smoothed it over and sent them back so I hadn't lost my first week of pain. I am still having issues with the ridge however so I have ordered some boot stretchers and Ill see if that helps. Probably just needs a few mm of stretch to take that pressure of. Other than that Ive had no rubbing or blisters and I really do love the look.
Why aren’t more reviews on these?
I've got a pair of classic 1460 DM's coming after not having owned a pair since I was a Punk loving teenager in the seventies! after looking at your reviews I'm a bit nervous about the quantity. If these Solovair's fare better over time they may be an option. Thanks for the reviews.
Thanks for watching, will update on how these work out!
I have the Made in England Docs, so I imagine they're just about the same as these minus the coloring of various parts. Hardly wear them, but I'd probably wear them a lot more with the nice greyish/white stitching these ones have. Overall the colors make the boot look a little more elegant and less "hip" than the Doc counterpart.
Yes, the stitching and lower profile welt give these a quite different look
I love my MIE Docs because they're a limited edition with a white stitched upper and white welt stitching. I love them because they don't look like everybody else's Docs. They do look more refined and classy like you say. The yellow stitch gets a little old.
Only compliant I have with mine is that the tongue on one of the boots always wants to slide over like it wasn't put in right. Tried everything to try and get it to stay but it always ends up going to the side.
I'd be very interested for someone to provide a comparison of the different leather types offered by Solovair. Most seem to go for this "hi-shine" leather, which seems to be the lowest quality leather offered (according to Solovair's own description), simply due to it's similarity to the classic Dr. Martens.
Nice to see you've got some Red Wings in the background.
No wonder they couldn't help size me! I asked about the sizing compared to DM's. Looking forward to the comparison video to the MIE Docs. Thanks for this!
I have both solovair and Doc shoes.
MIE Doc's and Solovair size the same.
Thanks, do you find that they have a somewhat narrower last, compared to non MIE DMs?
@@DevonReviewer MIE Dm's are borderline unwearable for me. I have tried multiple times but they always leave my feet sore. The original For Life boots are extremely comfortable though. I can wear my pair all day long. These days though, I find myself wearing Red Wings and Truman boots.
@@DevonReviewer It's funny, because for me it's the non MIE DMs that have a narrower last.
(My feet are very thin)
So I have to take thin socks when I wear them to make it more comfortable.
Can you switch out the insoles?
Is there a lot of room for the top of the foot in the solovair? compared to dr martens please? because dr martens hurt me so much and I even bruise
Thanks for your video. I was thinking of buying a pair. What is the best way to break them in with as little discomfort as possible?
I have two pairs of these and three pairs of MIE Docs.....watch the welting on the Solovairs, both of mine had the soles coming loose after about a year, the MIE Docs didn't do that after 4 years.(the one pair i had back then, two of them I got just recently) .... I fixed it by re-welting them with a soldering iron, but it's still extremely annoying.
Van V Are the Solovairs the same size as the MIE boots?
@@SierraEire Yep. Both are 9UK, and size-wise they're identical. In fact I was pretty convinced they're made in the same factory, which is why the solovair soles coming loose really disappointed me. They're both NPS shoes, but maybe they make them to differing standards, or maybe I just got extremely unlucky. :s
Van V My toes are 2mm from stumping the front of my DMs, so I was worried after I ordered a pair of these Solovairs in the same size because I later saw their size guide puts me on a bigger size than what I ordered.
WIl these be good to wear even when raining and snowing?
Thank you for the review! I got a pair of Doc's 'bout a half a year ago and the quality was horrible. They cracked in a couple of months. Wish I could get my hands on these SOLOVAIR boots. Looking good!
I think the ship internationally?
@@DevonReviewer You are right! They do! Now just to gather enough money..
u gotta get made in england
Are they wider in the toebox compared to the dealer boot
Very interested to see how these hold up to your use.
Did you find that the feeling of the edge of the foot bed is more noticeable in these rather than Dr Martens?
Just received my 11 hole steal toe capped solovair derby boots and the quality is great when it comes to how they are put together but I was quit surprised at how thin the leather is. I am used to iron rangers and JK custom boots though. They socked up the leather conditioner very quickly, so a bit dry out of the factory. I will see how they survive 12 hour shifts in an engineering factory :)
I'm a warehouse worker and i'm intrested in buying Solovair steel toed Highlander boots. Since You're wearing the boots while working i wanted to know how they turned out to be.
Thank You in advance !!!!
Karan Singh they are very comfortable. I spend 12 hours walking on concrete floors at work. The toe cap does not meet safety regulations and might not protect your toes in a accident. The leather is very thin, this doesn’t give any protection in a working environment. I use my JK custom linesman boots for work; I would advise looking into RedWings safety boot range, they are around the same price, but will be a lot better for comfort, safety and last a lot longer.
Do the shoes fit smaller or larger?
Hello, one question, you bought the 8.5UK, I'm from USA and I usually wear 9.5US, may I know the length of your foot, just for reference, I'm still deciding what size should I get, regards!!
Is this the Hi - Shine model? If it is , they don't look that shiny which is lovely !
Another problem I had with DM’s is they don’t come in 1/2 sizes. I wear size 9.5 US but I had to buy Size 10 in DM and it doesn’t fit right at all unfortunately
I also wear a 9.5, 9UK is a perfect fit for me.
are these the Hi-shine ones?("Navy Hi-Shine 8 Eye Derby Boot" ) or shiny black and hi shine are diffrent types of shine? and what do you think is better to buy, the greasy or the shiney ones? thanks
It would interesting to know if they use cork footbeds, like Doc Martens used to. Docs in the 70's didn't need breaking in, from my experience and were comfy from the start. That all changed in around 1985 when the quality dropped and they cut my heels to bits and I still have scar tissue.
Just came through the door and wow they are amazing 😍
For this price range I would definitely go with a polyurethane sole which is proven to be very durable
True, any particular make / model recommendations?
Not too many brands I know of but Ecco makes PU soles and Puma used to make PU sole for GV Tennis Shoes
@@khurrammalik5865 I picked up son Ecco Trayteck suede shoes. Do you know of they would be PU?
@@matttherrien9608 yes they are PU
@@khurrammalik5865 Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I got them for less than forty Canadian. Pretty sweet no?
Solovairs use a proper Goodyear welt stitch you can actually buy replacement soles and replace the soles which you cant on the dr martens as they use heat to stick the sole onto the boot as well as stiching
Are these the hi shine ones?
The only thing that threw me off about my pair, is on the site the boot doesn’t have binding of the very top where it wraps around your ankle. Almost mine are constructed a bit different than yours, and my friends pair are a bit different as well. His also are just a smooth leather are the very top, with out binding. Imo they look much better
Docs started bursting in the late 70s / or about 1980. Sometimes after 2 months, sometimes 4
Does the "Last" model run wide?
Ive heard they are wide in the toe box. I don't have a pair yet. If I remember, I will update this once I get mine.
Nice video. I prefer these much more than my doc MIE 1460's but unfortunately the soles wear fast as well. May wear a little slower but I didn't really pay attention. Unfortunately any see through rubber sole is to soft and wears quick. But I still love these. Thanks for posting this video.
Thanks, as I have said many time, I just wish they would introduce a deeper tread
Could.you olease compare with your made in england. As the quality of solovair looks superb. And im sure everyone would love a followup on you m.i.e oxbloods
beautiful, do they come with the insoles?
Hello, great video Purchase a pair of Doc Martens M.I.E 1460 they were a UK size 9 and they were so tight on my feet. Just wondering if the Solovair boots have the same fitting as the Doc Martens? Don’t know if I should go one size up on the Solovair boots? I don’t want to make the same mistake. Any advice would be great. Thank you
Would you say they run true to size ( compared to sneakers ) or size up from regular sneaker size or size down?
@@SlasherGuyy1 I would follow the sizing guide on their web page, I would say they are true to normal shoe size… for sneakers I often go up half a size…
@ for you , did you have to stick to your regular shoe size that you majority wear , or had to do one down ?
@@SlasherGuyy1 tts for my normal shoe size
@@DevonReviewer thank you for the help I do appreciate your pov! I saw a diff video the UA-camr was mentioning about a whole size down . I was worried for a second because I’m buying a new pair from eBay ( brand new ! And for a not to bad price) and from measurements the seller sent I would want to say I think I ordered my right size hopefully ( fingers crossed ) good thing the seller accepts returns
are the sizing on these the same as docs? TYIA. I only have the ones that were made in asian countries if that also helps
Hey! I have both and for me they're really true to size. With Martens I had to go half a size up because the half size wasn't available (had a size 8 with my martens, my Solovair are 7,5 and fit perfectly). Hope that helps :)
Is the sizing similar to doc martens
How long is you feet from toes to heel? I go 8 for Docs and it's a lil bit tight. I am thinking between going 8.5 or 9 for these boots. Please help me. Thank you.
From my research you ought to get the same size in these that you get in docs or even go down half a size. If 8 is tight in docs for you, 8 might be just right in solovairs
They still have the plasticity look of the leather like most of the Dr martens . Does anybody know what kind of leather they use, what grain ?
corrected grain leather
jason wise so is it like the soft leather used on the Napa boot, cus I’m planning on buying these either way
Great video, what jeans are you wearing on the On Foot footage?
they are Ironheart 555-01s, not cheap but the best denim I have ever had
@@DevonReviewer Excellent! Thank you!
Try Blackmans, cherry brogue dealer is my fave of theirs and a fraction of a Doc price wise and they were another company that utilised the sole that DM and Solovair used. East London firm and us hooligans used to get 'em out back of the factory in Hackney.
I've had my Blackmans cherry 8 hole standard boots for six years now and still going strong except the pull tabs came out but not the worst issue, my brogue dealers which polish up extremely well (ex soldier and they look like glass) I use for going out and about in to look smart and they are 4 years poss 5 years, no splits, no parting of the soles and the pull tabs seemed a bit sturdier than the lace up ones. I paid £25 for each pair, I wear them fixing cars and doing tough stuff and just keep on going, my proper English DM oxblood loafers I have had over ten years and I cannot wear them still without them ripping me heels up :( I also got a £15 pair of Austrian para boots for real mucky stuff. Another weird brand I had much fun with was something on ebay called Pukka, the soles had like flashing where the oil resistant logo went between heel and toe would on a DM, lasted ten years though until my daughters had to prise them from me hands because the crease at toecap had split open but sooooooo comfy when dry hehe Back in the day I queued all night outside a shop in Tottenham Court Road to be one of the first to own Dr Marten 14 hole steel toecap boots, I loved them boots but the nause was they didn't have the yellow stitching, I gave them to a friend I think in 88 and he still has them and still serviceable albeit the steel caps have broken out of the inner linings, bet the new chinesium stuff don't last a fraction of that lol
I'm going to get those exact boots. They look great.
Hey, I have a question yall, in relation to the doc martins should I go the same size or a different size? I need to know as I am considering to order a pair and well with my docs I had to go a 1 1/2 size smaller than my normal size and well since Solovair doesn't take refunds for acquiring the wrong size I was just wondering.
Are these the Solovair Hi-Shine Derby boot or is shiny black a different model?
Very good looking boots. How do they compare with Redwing boots?
Apples and oranges. Solovair is a (high quality) fashion boot. Red Wings are usually for work.
My Solovairs are good. Just a little too big at the top of the boot above the ankle. Making it fit loose like a cowboyboot. I can get them tight.
Since I saw so many Videos prasing the Solovair Boots I decided to buy them, they are my first Boots with laces and so far the quality is perfect, but the Boots realy hurt on top of my feet. I'm guessing it is because there is the stich that combines the tongue of the boot with the Rest, has anyone had similar experiences and did the pain Go away?
Cheers
Bonjour; je n'arrive pas a trouvé une réponse a ma question, peut-être trouverais-je de l'aide ici ? Je suis amoureux des Solovair, et j'aimerais savoir si c'est utile de mettre de la graisse pour assouplir le cuir et éviter de craquer le cuir trop rapidement ou ça ne sert a rien et il vaut mieux mettre de la crème et/ou de la graisse après les avoir porté pour les faire ? J’espère qu'on pourra m'éclairé un peu : ) merci ps: désolé pour la traduction automatique de google ^^
Hello; I can not find an answer to my question, may I find help here? I am in love with Solovair, and I would like to know if it is useful to put fat to soften the leather and avoid cracking the leather too quickly or it is useless and it is better to put cream and / or fat after wearing them to do them? I hope we can enlighten a little:) thank you ps: sorry for the automatic translation of google ^^
Wow looking good
Solovair looks really well refined boots without any doubt looks supple leather
Supple indeed
Every pair of DM's I had in the 70's and 80's the soles split after about 6 months and the hot knife repair was hopeless. I was in school and spent many a squelchy day in those things until they eventually priced them out of most people's pockets and these are even worse.
same here 6 months was about an average lifetime for DMs and even if you avoided the dreaded sole split the tread was gone within a year ,, that was ok then but not at the price they are now ,, there are so many boots that are better quality
Gonna have to get a pair of these when my docs wear out. I hate buying Vietnamese or Chinese made products.
I think you ought to consider calling some of your vids under the A.S.M.R. banner, cos your reviews and the way you speak are very soothing. Its difficult to explain, but touching and manipulating squeaking,creaking leather boots with a soft informative voice gives a lot of people "The Fizz". Youll need to make your vids at least twice as long and your hits will go up and up. ASMR the new phenomena. (not just boots)
Did you use any dubbing to break them in?
no point, hi shine are covered in a man mad material, dubbin cdnt get thru
I don't know if you get it in your country but in germany there is one shoe grease that is just the best for them: collonil nil-fett.
I bought the monkey boot in December 2020 and they still look excellent. I wear them at least once a week if not two or three times. My next pair might be the pair that you have. The main decision I have to make is high, shine or low shine.
the high shine grip ur feet more tightly, the regular leather ones are much looser
They look more subtle than the DMs, I like them.
How are your MIE Oxblood Dr.Martens?
hey! i love your boot reviews. You know very much about boots :) i need some advice regarding sizing from the Black Greasy 8 Eye Derby Boot (Last 409).
Maybe you can help me please?
I ordered the Burgundy Rub-Off 6 Eye Brogue Boot last week in size UK10 (Last 493). Unfortunaly they are a bit too big for my taste and the shiny leather isnt my favorite.
The next option is the Black Grease 8 Eye Derby Boot. According to their homepage, the two pairs aren´t equal when compared to sizing. Boots with the Last 493 seemed to be at least 1/2 size bigger then the one with Last 409. What are your experiences?
best regards
Jo Ny
I will be buying these but the greasy ones 8 eye
Interesting about you going up a half size. Currently their website says these boots run about a half size larger. I also wear an 8 so they currently recommend a 7.5 or using thick socks. I also didn't see any reference to the tracing processed referenced in the video ... just FYI ... they do state on the website "It is free and very simple to exchange or ask for a refund, so you can try the footwear in the comfort of your own home to make sure they fit." ... but then at the bottom of the size guide page I found this: "Please note returns for incorrect size are accepted, but we are not accountable for orders where the incorrect size has been purchased." ... What? That seems very poorly worded. I ordered my normal size 8 ... we'll see how it all works out. Cheers & thanks for the excellent video!
How was the fit of your shoes in size 8?
@@OGNICK27 My 8 seems really good. Also the break in was VERY easy ... these boots never caused me a moment of pain. Loving them!
@@oldguyplaysbass6503 thank you so much for replaying
@@oldguyplaysbass6503 good info. I too am an 8 in Docs and thought going down to 7.5 was not right. I will order the 8s .
@@globalnova Sorry about the hassle for you. I ended up ordering 8's and they worked out perfect for me. Very comfortable up front and got a lot better after only a couple wearings. Good luck!
Just when I thought I couldn't find any more iconic boots to invest in.....
The leather visibly looks better on these than docs. Docs seem a little flimsier and cheaper looking . Well because they are considering these are more money than the regulars and less than the made in englands
It looks like these boots have the same sole as of DMs
Very similar, I would really like to test the durometer of the rubber to estimate if it will wear better!
I bought a pair of these in 2016 after three pairs of Asian Docs split on me. Without a doubt Solovair are the best boots I've ever owned!! Didn't take too long to break in, incredibly comfy and sturdy 😁
Still using them 2022? Would you say they were worth the money?
@@sykoosi yea still wearing them!! And I paid £155 at the time, not sure what they are now, but I think they're great, but now I prefer my greasy black Solovair instead
heyy! are you still wearing them in 2023? are they still in one piece?
@@ramadewap I am indeed!! Still going strong, I use renovating cream on them from Solovair, nice stuff for feeding the leather!!
@A.pisces1989 Do you own a pair of hi-shines? I've heard that the coating doesn't really let any cream through and you have to do it from the inside
I've had my steel cap DMs for 10 years.... 😁👍
Size. What is your size in cm and your UK number for DMs and Solovair?
Yeah I have a problem with sizing too
Tengo un par hace 11 meses, son excelentes y de mejor calidad que las Dr. Martens, además todas son hechas a mano en Inglaterra. sería bueno que hicieras una comparación de las dos marcas. Saludos y muy buen video !
Sinceramente quisiera saber, ¿a qué se refiere con "mejor calidad"? ¿Bajo qué criterio? Que yo sepa, Solovair usa la misma clase de cuero de mala calidad ( cuero corregido) en sus botas standard, lo cual dejará arrugas que irán agrietándose con el uso, especialmente en el empeine. En lo que mí respecta, son la misma cosa, sólo que con algunos modelos recurren a una publicidad que deslumbra con herencias y métodos "superiores" para aumentar el precio de sus sobre-valorados productos.
Are these slimmer than docs?
I will do another comparison video soon, but my assessment id that the solovair have a more generous width on their last (I am comparing an 8.5UK with 8UK DM)
I've just purchased a pair of Grinders Stag 2015, but I do love the look of these! I'm a huge fan of the stitch colour. I have a pair of vintage Tuff boots that are a bit more matte than these and the Docs, but have a darker stitch thread which I love! They're comfortable, durable, and satisfy the fashion application they were intended for. I will keep these on my Wishlist though. Thanks for the review. I would strongly suggest trying out either the surgeon's or berluti knots. You remove the need for double knots and still use up a bit of length so they don't get stepped on, but more importantly, the knot is much nicer!
In my opinion both brands are a fashion shoe and are Goodyear Welted in name only as they are both GLUED soles. For the same price you can get a proper Goodyear welted boot from Meermin with NO GLUE. The leather quality is head an shoulders above both these boots and for an additional 80 quid you can get MTO Meermins in Shell Cordovan. The only reason to get either of these is British patriotism but its the difference between getting a Triumph and a Ferrari when both are now in the same price range.
**Patiently waiting till Solovair goes on sale**
I love my Dr. Martens, I got a pair last year and they're still lasting there is only two small slits where my foot creases when I walk but a little bit of Saphir Renovarice Creme works wonders. However, I was lucky enough to snag a few pair of DM's from the 90's and the quality is night and day now keep in mind my 2021 pair is from *Vietnam* not *Made in England* but I did some digging before I went and got myself just a pair of *Made in Englands*. I ended up finding out that even the current line of *Made in Englands* deteriorate not as fast but quick enough.
I love the fact that NPS was like, "Ok well, we'll just keep making the *same* boot*." with the same materials and even adding in a shank. As soon as a sale happens (if one ever does) I'm going to buy myself a pair.
Hows your mie oxblood?
Is that an SG in the brackground?
Some kind of Gibson looking inlays…
I prefer the yellow stitching.. any videos of them worn for a few months?
From my understanding, DM Made in Englands are still made by Solovair/NPS on contract in Northampton, but the latter does not like to advertise that fact. The biggest advantage of Solovairs though is that their soles are attached through the standard goodyear welted construction, not moulded onto the shoe/boot like DMs, meaning that they can be re-soled by any cobbler, whereas DMs can only be re-soled with original soles by Timpson in the UK. Even with other types of soles, such as Vibrams, DM are quite difficult to re-sole, I’ve tried to get my old pair of DM MIE 1461s re-soled here in the Philippines, but the local cobblers I’ve shown them to seem to be unsure about how to do so.
@The Muffin Man ...I've seen re-soled DMs that look quite good, what the cobblers do is cut the PVC sole but keep the original stitching, then stick a new midsole and outsole. I think you need a skilled experienced cobbler to do this properly though.
The Muffin Man...DMs don’t resole their shoes, even in the UK. I already asked in Megmall and BGC. The only shoe repair store that can with the original soles is Timpson in the UK, which is their equivalent of Mr. Quickie. Here in Manila, maybe Besa’s can do the resole but with a Vibram sole, they did a good job converting my English-made country shoes from double leather soles to a rubber Vibram soles. You might have to check with the store though. Not cheap as well, gonna cost over 5000 php, so unless you have MIEs it won’t be worth it imo.
The Muffin Man cool..enjoy your new boots.
Nice looking boots!
Your names not Dave is it?
Finally! :)
Thanks for watching! It has taken a while hasnt it!
I have a pair of these and love them, but the top is looser than the 1460s. Compare the profile and last. Its not quite the same. The Solovair are looser despite tightening the laces to the max. Look at Devon's fit, it i s loose on the top as well. This feels awkward because when you tighten the laces it snugs your entire foot, but not over the ankle.
The silence on the MIE Docs is a little disconcerting.
I know! He hasn't breathed a word about them in 18 months! I wonder if they failed, and DM paid him some hush money?
I love my Vintage 1460s, so I really hope his have held up.
@Csab I've been wearing Docs since 1990. That's 29 years of research. I currently have 4 pairs of Docs. Also, I didn't say they failed. I said "maybe they failed".
I really like these boots but I just can't justify paying that much. I had a pair of doc martens years ago and they were nowhere near as expensive as they are now
Nice!!!
These are all UK made, doc's are not
I always wanted docs.
But after everything I've read and saw on videos, I go with solovair.
I don't think it's worth buying a bad quality plus very expensive shoe just because of a yellow stitch.
If I can have the same shoes, even better quality, almost the same price plus made in England, there is no question about it.
I don't say that products made in Asia are necessary bad, but still It feels better to support European companies.